Use Workbench to upload local files to an ECS instance or download files from an ECS instance to a local computer - Elastic Compute Service

Upload files to or download files from an ECS instance through the Workbench file management feature.

Usage notes

File size limit: Up to 1200 MB for Linux instances and 100 MB for Windows instances. For larger files, use other file transfer methods.
Transfer speed: Transfers may be slow during peak hours. If so, use other file transfer methods.
Session management connections do not support this feature.

Upload files

Important

To upload multiple files, compress them into a single file, transfer it to the instance, and decompress it. See Compress and upload files.

Linux instances

How do I determine whether I am using Workbench 1.0 or 2.0?

Workbench 2.0

Log on to a Linux instance using Workbench.

Log on as root or a user with write permissions for the destination folder. Otherwise, the upload fails.
In the left-side navigation pane, click to open file management. Click the instance to expand the file tree.
An error message appears stating that the current logon method does not support file management when you click an instance in
- Symptom
  
  The error message shown in the following figure appears, and the ssm (session management) identifier is displayed after the instance name.
- Cause
  
  This feature is not supported when you connect to the instance using a session management connection.
- Solutions
  
  Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
  
  Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.
Right-click the destination folder, click Upload File, and select the files to upload.

You can also double-click the folder in the file tree, then click Upload File or drag files to the right pane.
Wait for the upload to complete.

Upload progress is displayed in the lower-right corner of the page.

Workbench 1.0

Log on to a Linux instance using Workbench.

Log on as root or a user with write permissions for the destination folder. Otherwise, the upload fails.
Choose File > Open New File Tree in the upper-left corner of the menu bar.
The "Open New File Tree" feature cannot be found
- Symptom
- Cause
  
  You may be connected to the instance using a session management connection. This feature is not supported for session management connections.
  
  If you are not using a session management connection, try to refresh the page or reconnect to the instance.
- Solutions
  
  Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
  
  Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.
Right-click the destination folder in the file tree and click Upload File.
Select the files to upload.

A success message appears when the upload completes.

Note
If a file fails to upload, retry or delete the task. To re-upload all failed files, click Re-upload All Failed Items.

You can modify, delete, download, or rename uploaded files from the file list.

Windows instances

Connect to a Windows instance by using Workbench
Search for and open This PC.

If you cannot find This PC, open File Explorer and click This PC in the left-side navigation pane.
Double-click the workbench on xxx@ drive in the Redirected Drives And Folders section.
Drag a file, such as test.txt, from your local computer to this folder.
Drag the file from this folder to drive C or another drive.

Important
When you reconnect to or exit the instance, Workbench purges all uploaded files from Redirected Drives And Folders. This folder is for transfers only. Do not save files here.

Download files

Linux instances

How do I determine whether I am using Workbench 1.0 or 2.0?

Workbench 2.0

Log on to a Linux instance using Workbench.

Log on as root or a user with read permissions for the target files. Otherwise, the download fails.
In the left-side navigation pane, click to open file management. Click the instance to expand the file tree.
An error message appears stating that the current logon method does not support file management when you click an instance in
- Symptom
  
  The error message shown in the following figure appears, and the ssm (session management) identifier is displayed after the instance name.
- Cause
  
  This feature is not supported when you connect to the instance using a session management connection.
- Solutions
  
  Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
  
  Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.
Right-click the file to download and click Download File.

You can also double-click the folder in the file tree, then click > Download in the Actions column.
Wait for the download to complete.

After you click Download, the download progress is displayed in the lower-right corner of the page.

Workbench 1.0

Log on to a Linux instance using Workbench.

Log on as root or a user with read permissions for the target files. Otherwise, the download fails.
Choose File > Open New File Tree in the upper-left corner of the menu bar.
The "Open New File Tree" feature cannot be found
- Symptom
- Cause
  
  You may be connected to the instance using a session management connection. This feature is not supported for session management connections.
  
  If you are not using a session management connection, try to refresh the page or reconnect to the instance.
- Solutions
  
  Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
  
  Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.
Right-click the file to download in the file tree and click Download File.

A success message appears when the download completes.

Note
If a file fails to download, retry or delete the task. To re-download all failed files, click Re-download All Failed Items.

Windows instances

Important

You cannot download empty files.

Connect to a Windows instance by using Workbench.
Search for and open This PC.
Double-click the workbench on xxx@ drive in the Redirected Drives And Folders section.
Drag the file from drive C or another drive to the Download folder. The file is downloaded to your local computer.

FAQ

How do I determine whether I am using Workbench 1.0 or 2.0? How do I switch to 2.0?

Identify the version by the UI. Workbench 2.0 shows the Workbench icon in the upper-left corner, while Workbench 1.0 shows WORKBENCH. The left-side navigation pane also differs.

Workbench 2.0	Workbench 1.0

To switch versions, click New Version in the upper-right corner for 2.0, or click Previous Version for 1.0.

The file management page displays a message indicating that the current logon method does not support file management

Symptom

The error message shown in the following figure appears, and the ssm (session management) identifier is displayed after the instance name.
Cause

This feature is not supported when you connect to the instance using a session management connection.
Solutions
- Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
- Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.

The top menu bar cannot be found

Symptom: The menu bar and File button are not displayed at the top of the Workbench interface.
Cause: The top menu bar is hidden.
Solution: Right-click the terminal interface and click Show/Hide Menu Bar.

The "Open new file tree" feature cannot be found when connecting to a Linux instance

Symptom
Cause

You may be connected to the instance using a session management connection. This feature is not supported for session management connections.

If you are not using a session management connection, try to refresh the page or reconnect to the instance.
Solutions
- Solution 1: Use Workbench to log on to the instance using a terminal connection, and then retry the file transfer.
- Solution 2: Upload or download files on the instance details page in the console.

A file fails to be uploaded from a local computer, and a "Permission Denied" error is reported

Symptom
Cause

The logon user may lack write permissions for the destination folder. For example, this error occurs when you log on as ecs-user and upload to the /opt folder.
Solutions
- Log on as the root user and upload the file.
  
  Log on again as root and upload the file.
  
  If you selected ecs-user as the logon username when you created the instance, reset the root password before logging on as root.
- Upload the file to the home directory of the current user.
  
  For example, if you log on as ecs-user, upload files to /home/ecs-user.